This last chapter makes lot of sense.

After collapse of Soviet Union, most of former republics were seemed to be quite friendly towards Russia (except Baltic states of course who had a clear plan to return back to Europe), but with their own actions Russians managed to scare and drive away literally all of them. Either they still don’t get that or don’t admit. And instead of winning them back with soft power, they turned to as it seems the only approach they know – manipulations, terror, conquest.